Recycling a Rewarding Experience

Start a resourceful habit contributing to the well being of the planet, while putting money in the pocket. Almost anything can be recycled, while some things pay right back, others keep product costs down, while saving the consumer in the long run.

Some metals like: copper wire, stainless steel, brass and aluminum, pay good by the pound. Clean out the shed and get rid of rusty iron, metal, broken down appliances, hub caps, and pipes, recycling them all. Broken radiators and air conditioners have copper grills (dispose of all freon properly). Get to know different types of metals and separate them accordingly. A magnet will not stick to aluminum, brass or copper. Car batteries and oil are recycled at several Auto Part Stores. Top dollar is paid for metal that has been stripped of foreign materials, like screws or plastic. The usual price is less than half for mixed metals (dirty), and varies by the current market demand. Bring only cans the first recycle trip and get a price list. Look around and see the types of items people are bringing and ask a few questions.

Get into the habit of purchasing products that are easily recycled and create less waste. Buy sodas in aluminum cans, instead of plastic bottles, they stay cool longer. Using refillable water bottles, at filtered machines, saves time and money; as apposed to buying bottled water, making several trips and tossing the jugs.

"Did you know: Recycling aluminum saves about 95% of the energy it would take to produce aluminum from it's original source, Gauxite." onesteelrecycling.com

"Did you know: Every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space." paperrecycles.org

Get into the habit of recycling paper and plastic at work and home. Contact local county programs for pick up schedules and bin distributions. Start small with junk mail, most Post Offices offer a drop in recycle bin on site (make sure to tear off personal labels for shredding later). Some churches and clubs have newspaper drives to better the community, consider donating to them.

Plastic grocery bags can go right back to many stores. Bringing a shopping tote along, for small shopping orders, it saves the hassle of bag return altogether. Recycle clothing and household items by donating them to local charities or have a yard sale. Drop boxes are often available in shopping center parking lots, but for tax claiming purposes it's better to get a donation slip in person. The Kidney Foundation and Cancer Society have road side pick up available for donations.

Computers and televisions, get tossed into landfills, like yesterday's news. There are many places that recycle electronics today. Cell phones and computers can be sold or donated (one must be careful that all vital personal information is removed from the memory of these devises). Printer ink cartridges are refillable and it is more cost effective than trading them for fresh ones. All in all, every step that is taken to preserve the environment, is that much closer to reassuring a better planet future for everyone.